Horizon Therapeutics Acquires Viela Bio
Horizon Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: HZNP) has been a major player in the healthcare M&A market for the last few years. According to search results in our Healthcare Deal Database, the company last reported a deal in April 2020, acquiring Curzion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a San Diego-based biotechnology firm developing treatments for rare fibrotic diseases, for a modest $45 million. However, Horizon Therapeutics is back with a new deal, buying Viela Bio, Inc. in a $3.05 billion deal. Viela Bio is a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel treatments for autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. The company has a substantial pipeline... Read More »
AstraZeneca Buys Alexion In $39 Billion-Mega Deal
The global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca plc (NYSE: AZN) is back with its fifth deal of the year, and its biggest one at that. AstraZeneca is buying Boston, Massachusetts-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXN) for $39 billion. Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company that has pioneered complement inhibition for a broad spectrum of immune-mediated rare diseases caused by uncontrolled activation of the complement system, a vital part of the immune system. According to the terms of the agreement, Alexion shareholders will receive $60 cash and 2.1243 AstraZeneca American Depositary Shares (ADS) per share (each ADS equals 1/2 AZN share). Based on AstraZeneca’s... Read More »
Merck Strikes Another Oncology Deal
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) is back with another oncology deal. The global pharmaceutical giant has announced it is acquiring OncoImmune for $425 million in cash upfront. OncoImmune is a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is actively engaged in the discovery and development of novel biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. OncoImmune recently announced positive top-line findings from a Phase 3 study evaluating its lead therapeutic candidate CD24Fc for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Under the terms of the agreement, OncoImmune shareholders will also be eligible to receive sales-based payments and payments contingent on... Read More »
Merck Boosts Oncology Portfolio
The pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) has announced a new acquisition, prepping up its oncology product portfolio. Merck purchased VelosBio, a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing first-in-class cancer therapies, for $2.75 billion in cash. VelosBio’s lead investigational candidate, VLS-101, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 and a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, respectively. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2020. Merck has been building up its oncology portfolio in recent months, trying to remain competitive in the growing market,... Read More »
Biotech Firms Bet Big on Oncology
The Biotechnology sector is placing a big bet on oncology. Throughout 2020, M&A in the Biotechnology sector has focused heavily on targets involving oncology research and products, both in deal volume and spending. Of the 97 Biotechnology deals reported through September 30, 26% involved oncology targets, with $37.25 billion in deal value, or 65% of the sector’s total announced spending, according to search results in our HealthCareMandA.com Deal Database. In the first three quarters of 2019, demand for oncology targets hit only 20% of deal volume, revealing an increased interest in 2020. Spending in 2019 for oncology targets and collaborations easily eclipsed the total this year,... Read More »Schedule a demo
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